Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2023 —
Oceanview Nahant Wedding Photos
Lexi & Thomas
Oceanview Nahant, Nahant, Massachusetts
July 17th, 2023
When you've lived in New England your entire life, you sometimes take for granted how truly special this area is. With its go-go-go culture and the sheer volume of amazing sights you can see every day, it's sometimes tough to take a moment and really appreciate the place you call home. More specifically, I find one of the things I take the most for granted is the amazing coastline and beaches of this little part of the world.
That's why I love when I get to shoot weddings like Lexi and Thomas' back in July at Oceanview Nahant in Nahant, Massachusetts. If you're not familiar with the location, you're not alone. I hadn't even heard of it until Lexi and Tom reached out to me regarding their big day.
But all it took was five minutes on site at this amazing venue for me to know exactly why this bride and groom chose to say "I do" here and even though it was one of the hottest days of the year, I know there's nowhere Lexi and Tom would have rather become husband and wife because as beautiful as their venue was, and the location was, the most beautiful thing on this day was their love and this moment where they solidified it forever.
My coverage of Lexi and Tom's big day started about as relaxed as you can ask for as our timeline for the day had me in one location awaiting the bride and groom, who both got largely ready off site. I always love when this happens as it allows me to get right into the action of the day and neither Lexi nor Tom disappointed in that regard.
From the moment the bride walked in, we had her dress hanging in the stunning VIP Suite of Oceanview Nahant and, as I left her to get zipped up, the timing was perfect for me to document Tom's final stages of getting ready and getting his tie and boutonniere put on.
I loved being able to jump from room to room to check on both the bride and groom as the minutes to their ceremony ticked away and what I noticed most was how calm and relaxed Lexi looked as she got zipped up.
If this bride had any nerves, she did a wonderful job of hiding them. In fact, I think the only thing she was worried about was standing out in the hot summer heat and trying not to sweat too much.
Same girl. Same.
There's a reason Lexi and Tom's location is named Oceanview Nahant and, I'll be honest, it's not a secret. From the moment you walk into the back area where the ceremony space is set up, you understand immediately why a bride and groom might choose to have a wedding here on a Monday afternoon during the hottest time of year.
The view is that spectacular.
What I loved about Tom and Lexi's day, in particular, was that the stunning ocean view was secondary once their ceremony began. Sure, it was a lovely location but the only thing this bride and groom were focused on was the love in the eyes of their partner and eagerly waiting for the moment they could say "I do."
Tom and Lexi's ceremony was short and sweet but certainly not without its little touches and personal moments.
I especially loved that Lexi's grandfather was the officiant for their ceremony and he did a wonderful job of keeping everything on time, in order and without it feeling rushed.
Tom and Lexi had no shortage of little ways they expressed themselves during this ceremony but the one that touched me the most was seeing their little smiles crack at random moments and the focus they had on one another despite some seriously blinding sunshine that made it hard even for me to see.
From the moment Tom and Lexi officially became husband and wife, my job pivoted from documenting their beautiful ceremony to trying to get all of their formal photos done as fast as possible so we could get them into the air conditioning.
With a temperature that at times cracked 90 degrees, and the sun out in full force without a cloud anywhere to be found, I knew Tom, Lexi and I would need to be flexible when it came to their photos.
So, with the proper planning, we devised a way to get their family and wedding party formals out of the way first — with just a few bride and groom portraits in case things went haywire later — and planned to come back out later when it wasn't as warm.
I am so glad Tom and Lexi chose to go this route with their photos. As much fun as we had with their family and wedding party shots, I could tell the bride and groom (and their photographer) were struggling with the heat and humidity and a break would be just what the doctor ordered.
And, luckily for me, this little pause in the action allowed me to finish up photos of some of the details Lexi and Tom had chosen to give their wedding day some style. I have to admit, I've shot a bunch of weddings this year. I don't know if I liked the way a bride and groom decorated their venue more than Lexi and Tom. Their decor and tropical vibes were perfect in every way.
With detail photos in the bag, it was time for Lexi and Tom's reception to kick into high gear and I couldn't wait. Right from the moment this bride and groom were introduced, I could tell this was the part of the day they were looking most forward to.
The pair chose to open their reception with a first dance set to “A Woman Like You” by Gramps Morgan and I think it was a wonderful choice of song for a wonderful moment where their personalities and love for one another were on full display.
Lexi and Tom had one of the most relaxing receptions I've seen this year. Following their first dance, the pair sat down for two great toasts and a powerful prayer that hammered home the importance of faith for the newlyweds and their family members.
Following "dinner" — or at least what I'd call dinner given the fact that it was still 3:30 p.m. — Tom and Lexi chose to ease their way into the rest of their reception. First, we had a brief but fun cake cutting.
Next, with friends and family members still finishing their meal, Tom, Lexi and I decided to try our hand at some more formal photos outside. While the temperature dropped a bit, and the break helped, it was still pretty warm.
I'll give Tom and Lexi credit, though. They were troopers and did everything I asked of them. And that's why I love how their bride and groom portraits came out during this time of the day.
With formal photos in the bag (again), Tom and Lexi gladly rolled back into their reception to start the party portion of their big day with a special father-daughter dance between Lexi and her dad.
This was one of my favorite moments of Tom and Lexi's wedding day and it was so sweet watching the way she and her father looked at each other while the bride and groom's closest friends and family members looked on.
Almost immediately following Lexi's dance with her dad, it was time for the dance floor to open up. I'll admit, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from Tom and Lexi's reception as weekday weddings, in the afternoon no less, tend to be hit or miss when it comes to dancing but Lexi and Tom's friends and family members did their best to keep the dance floor packed.
I especially loved how this crew paced themselves as you could tell when they were really feeling the music as on tunes like the "Electric Slide," a wave of folks got out of their chair and rocked out.
As a photographer who specializes in dance floor candids, that's all I ever ask for.
One of the things I knew I would love the most about Tom and Lexi's wedding was when I found out the two would share the last song of their event outside on the rocks with the beach in the background. I haven't shot a lot of last dances with such a special twist and this one truly stands out.
In fact, it may have been the highlight of the day for me. I know it was definitely worth the wait for Tom and Lexi.
Following their final dance of the night, Tom and Lexi thanked those who stayed to the end of their wedding but I had a feeling I couldn't shake.
As much as I loved the photos we took throughout the day of the bride and groom, even I had to admit that the harsh sun didn't show the true beauty of the location Tom and Lexi chose to say "I do" in. That's why, even though I was initially hesitant to ask any more of these newlyweds, I had to ask Tom and Lexi to indulge me for just a few more moments with some more bride and groom portraits now that the sun had set a bit.
To their credit, they did. And I am so glad they did because these photos were, unquestionably, the best ones I took all day and I think really show the true love and happiness this bride and groom were feeling in this moment.
As I packed up my gear and headed out of Oceanview Nahant for Tom and Lexi's wedding, I couldn't help but laugh at how drenched with sweat I was from the oppressive heat, how sore my feet were from running around all day and how much I didn't care because I was genuinely excited to get home and see how everything came out.
I always knew Tom and Lexi would have a beautiful wedding day but it absolutely surpassed my expectations and, I hope, surpassed the expectations of the bride and groom.
So, Lexi and Thomas, thank you so much for including me in this special moment of your lives and I wish you the best as you navigate this sweet and exciting new chapter of your relationship together.
-Paul J. Spetrini
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The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair and Make-up: B. the beauty Boutique, Milton, Massachusetts; Bride's Dress: David's Bridal; Groom's Suit: Men's Wearhouse; Florist: Dress My Wedding (Etsy); Ceremony & Reception Venue: Oceanview Nahant, Nahant, Masschusetts; DJ: DJ KevMack of Kev-mackdaddy Productions; Cake: Veronica's Sweetcakes; Pannist: Jefferey Clayton of PanNeubean Steel.